The mediation between the NFL player and NFL owners will begin on Thursday in Minnesota.

Judge Susan Richard Nelson made the suggestion to go into mediation when she decided that she was going to take a couple of weeks to make her ruling on the suit. She advised the players and owners not to wait that long and to try to come up with a settlement agreement before she makes her decision.

The two sides have tried mediation before, but the talks broke off last month, which led to the first stoppage of work since 1987.

New York Giants CEO, John Mara, could not escape his civil duty as a US citizen and was picked up for jury duty in a drug hearing.

His excuses, which include: the upcoming draft and being a key negotiator for team owners in the lockout suit were all rejected by the judge. The judge had previous knowledge of Mara’s law degree from Fordham University, which I’m sure did not help his plea to be excused.

The judge said he would reconsider if there was an emergency dealing with the lockout case, but that other than that, Mara is expected to be present for the hearing which will take place over the next three weeks, ending around Easter.

The players of the NFL have made it very clear that they just want to play. The owners have made it very clear that things won’t go back to normal until the two can come to a collective bargaining agreement.

The players and owner failed to reach an agreement last month leading to the desertification of the union, the lockout of the players and the antitrust lawsuit.

A hearing was held today as players asked the judge to lift the lockout. She said she would take a couple weeks to rule on the request. That’s not really flying with the players.

The judge has told the two sides to not wait that long and to try to reach a settlement.